Cards We've Sent

This was the first card we ever made and sent out as a couple and the first year  we moved to Las Vegas. Bottom right: Our home in Lost Tree Circle in the Los Prados community. Bottom left: Our two cats, Porthos and D'Artagnan Top Left: Between the Palazzo and the Venetian Top Right: In the limousine with the Crescent City crew for Laura's 30th birthday in Las Vegas.

The prize pineapple palm tree in our backyard

We got married at the Justice of the Peace in Las Vegas December 13, 2017. My girlfriends Rebecca and Kimber came. We spent the night at the Mirage and then my childhood friend, Jacqueline surprised me by flying in that night and leaving the next day. She wasn't even in town for 24 hours, what a boss move. Johnny came from Seattle to stand up for Ira. Sadly Nate wasn't able to come. 

From there we went to Chicago Joe's for dinner. We had a lovely table right by the fireplace. It was a fun tradition for Ira and I to go back to every year. We ended the night at the Beatle's LOVE lounge at the Mirage. 

This card we sent out Winter of 2016. Top Left: In front of the Wayne Gretzky statue holding the Stanley Cup in front of the old stadium in Edmonton. Jacqueline and I took Ira to his first professional hockey game there. A fight broke out right in front of our seats within the first 5 minutes as I recall. Awesome! Top Right: Las Vegas Bonsai Society booth at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas during the Asian Festival  Middle Right: Outside the Cafe at Pebble Beach  Bottom: At Liberty Island, taken by Ira's cousin Ian.

It was a combination Holiday card / Moving Announcement. We had sold our first house in Las Vegas, took the profit and moved to Henderson, closer to my work.

This card below was printed in the winter of 2017, but was the first year I decided to give myself a break and mail them out in the New Year. Christmas season was getting too busy!

Top Left: This was taken at the Lion Habitat in Henderson Nevada, they happened to have a giraffe there also, named Ozzie. She was about 3 years old at the time of this picture and Ozzie liked to paint. I had her paint a small picture for me and then we got to feed her and get this picture. It was a fun day! Our Anthem neighbor Ginny used to set up charity yoga events there. We would set up our mats amongst the lion cages. The highlight of the class was when the lions would roar at each other, it felt like a little lion symphony. Everyone there couldn't help smiling. Middle Left: Bryce Canyon, photo taken by our bonsai friends Robby and Shelley. We rented an airBNB in nearby Panguitch for a couple of nights. Also on that trip Ira went to his first rodeo and I saw for my first time "mutton bustin;" think little kids riding sheep bareback. It was very entertaining! Middle Right: Tio's Tacos, Riverside, CA - one small part of the recycled junk sculpture park behind the restaurant. Bottom Right: At Carson & Crissy's house in Las Vegas during a Gatsby themed dance party.

This one was printed December 2019 and mailed out January 2020. All of the pictures are from our January 2019 trip to Australia to visit my brother Jeffrey and his two girls, Indiana "Indi" and Akira. They were around 10 and 7 at the time and the perfect age to still enjoy hanging out with Auntie Darlene and Uncle Ira.

This one was printed December 2020, but mailed out in January 2021. The picture is from after our hike to the Raintree in Mt. Charleston with Ryan Neil. 

Sadly, this was the first year of Covid, when Las Vegas shut down and a lot of the city's residents were out of work. Ira and I were very lucky to both have our jobs. Hiking was our entertainment that year. I was in great shape during this time. 

The photo was taken in February 2021 on one of many of our Mount Charleston hikes. Covid was still going strong and we were still hiking! We printed the card in January 2022 and mailed it after we had already moved to Mirai. We had moved on New Year's Day and arrived to a snowy Mirai.

Per normal we combined our New Year greeting with our move announcement. Pro move LOL!

This card below was printed December 2022 and mailed out in early 2023 for the New Year. Top Left: Taken by RC on our trip to the Newkowin Ghost Forest. We might not Top Right: At The Huntington in San Marino, California where we would often visit and volunteer at their bonsai collection.

Bottom Left: Making a snowman on top of frozen Lake Minnewanka near Banff, Alberta, Canada. Bottom Right: Picture along the Oregon Coast on one of our many road trips.

The photo on the back is in front of the Mirai greenhouse. It was always a pretty sight to come home to when it was lit up at night.

Printed November 2023, mailed out early 2024. Bottom Left: Colosseum, Rome Italy. Top Right: On the balcony of San Marco's church, Venice, Italy.

Riomaggiore, Italy

This was taken at the southern most town of five that make up Cinque Terre.